Influenza: Vaccination

(asked on 5th September 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of expanding the portion of the flu immunisation programme delivered by community pharmacies.


Answered by
Lord Markham Portrait
Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 13th September 2023

National Health Service providers determine how many seasonal flu vaccines to buy each year based on their local populations, eligible cohorts and uptake ambitions for the NHS programme as outlined in the annual flu system letter. The letter, published on 25 May 2023, is based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation who review the latest evidence on flu vaccines and advise on the type of vaccine to be offered to different age groups and on which vaccines should be prioritised for various at-risk groups.

In 2022/23, approximately 9,800 out of a total of around 10,800 community pharmacies delivered flu vaccinations in England. In the same year, approximately 700 community pharmacies piloted using the NHS National Booking Scheme for flu appointments for the first time. In terms of this year’s programme, all community pharmacies delivering COVID-19 vaccinations will be expected to deliver flu vaccines too. All pharmacies will be given the functionality to offer flu appointments via the national booking system with the aim of increasing coadministration of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.

The community pharmacy service is currently an advanced service, which means it is commissioned nationally and any contractor that meets the criteria for the service can deliver it. We do not expect a significant change to be seen to the proportion of seasonal flu vaccination programme being delivered by community pharmacies, which is estimated to be approximately 86% total number of community pharmacies, in 2023/24.

In terms of this year’s programme, all community pharmacies delivering COVID-19 vaccinations will be expected to deliver flu vaccines too. All pharmacies will be given the functionality to offer flu appointments via the national booking system with the aim of increasing coadministration of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.

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